Essiac. Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003. 800-458-5231 ext. 5023. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Essiac. Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003. 800-458-5231 ext. 5023.

Notes Undergr. 1995 Winter;(no 29):6-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE AIDS/95700307
Majchrowicz MA

Abstract: Essiac, an herbal formulation from the Ojibway Indians in Canada, is composed of four herbs: burdock root, sheep sorrel, turkey rhubarb root, and slippery elm bark. After her discovery of Essiac in 1922, Rene Caisse reported treating and curing hundreds of people with cancer and other chronic diseases. The rights to the original Essiac now belong to Elaine Alexander of Vancouver, who is currently working with an unnamed health products company to research, test, manufacture, and distribute Essiac. However, there are a variety of sources for Essiac in the United States. According to former chiropractor Gary Glum, sheep's sorrel destroys cancer cells; the other three herbs are blood purifiers. In addition, Dr. Jim Chan, naturopathic physician, says burdock root contains inulin, a powerful immune modulator. However, there has been no basic research done with these herbs to demonstrate their true mechanisms of action. In addition, only anecdotal reports provide information about results. Only laboratory and clinical studies will confirm the anti-tumor and immune-modulating effects of Essiac.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/THERAPY Adjuvants, Immunologic/*THERAPEUTIC USE CD4 Lymphocyte Count Human HIV Infections/THERAPY *Medicine, Herbal NEWSLETTER ARTICLEKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/therapyadjuvants,immunologic/KWDtherapeuticusecd4lymphocytecounthumanhivinfections/therapyKWDmedicine,herbalnewsletterarticle
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